Object Class attributes

Identifying and definitional attributes

The course of cancer-directed treatment or treatments, with defined dates of commencement and cessation, given to the patient by a treatment provider or team of providers.

This may include cancer-directed surgical treatment, radiation therapy and systemic agent therapy for cancer. It applies to the primary course of cancer treatment, treatment administered to the patient in response to disease progression or treatment administered to the patient in response to disease recurrence.

Property attributes

Identifying and definitional attributes

Chemotherapy is the treatment of disease by means of chemical substances or drugs; usually used in reference to neoplastic disease. Chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer achieves its antitumour effect through the use of antineoplastic drugs that inhibit the reproduction of cancer cells by interfering with DNA synthesis and mitosis.

Chemotherapy may involve treatment with a single agent or a combination of two or more drugs that are administered in treatment cycles and according to a prespecified regimen or protocol.